Titanium X

Titanium X takes the viewer through the streets of Athens via a study of bruised and damaged cars. The abstract photographs close in on details, exploring fragility and physical memory. The sunburnt, scratched, crashed and hastily repaired surfaces of Athenian automobiles become the artist’s canvas.

In their own words: “Athens’ urban landscape does not hide its true colors; the city wears them boldly. Amongst all this chaos, the city’s population of damaged cars always stands out; a confession of life laid bare on its skin. (…) What I appreciate about the flaws of these cars is that their destruction always bears a certain truth to the life behind the steering wheel. They are a response.”

This series was realized during Gaab’s time in Athens in 2024, while doing an exchange at Athens School of Fine Arts. In their free time the photographer went searching for, witnessing and documenting the kids spinning donuts in the parking lot on top of Lycabettus hill, and the car races on the side streets of Piraeus.